A Lingering Feeling of Guilt
The night after Tara's expulsion, Maria sat by her window, staring at the quiet academy grounds. The dim glow of the lampposts illuminated the pathways, but inside Maria's heart, there was a storm.
No matter how she tried to justify it—Tara had broken the rules, she had been warned, and she had faced the consequences—Maria couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that perhaps things had gone too far.
She sighed and picked up her phone. Ayesha. If there was anyone she could share this with, it was her.
After a few rings, Ayesha answered.
Ayesha: (cheerfully) "Maria! How are you, my dear friend?"
Maria hesitated before responding.
Maria: (softly) "Not good, Ayesha… something happened."
The change in Maria's tone made Ayesha serious.
Ayesha: "What's wrong? Tell me everything."
Maria took a deep breath and recounted everything—from the cheating incident, the expulsion, the visa cancellation, and how Tara left the academy in shame.
There was a long pause on the other end.
Finally, Ayesha sighed.
Ayesha: (gently) "Maria, I understand why you feel bad. But rules are rules. If Tara was caught cheating not once but twice, then she made her choice."
Maria bit her lip.
Maria: "But expulsion? Isn't that too harsh?"
Ayesha: "It is harsh, but think about it—if the academy let her off lightly, wouldn't it encourage others to do the same? You know how strict these institutions are. They build discipline."
Maria nodded, even though Ayesha couldn't see her.
Ayesha: "And Maria, listen to me carefully—whatever happens, never put yourself in a position where you break the academy's rules. Mistakes like Tara's can cost you your entire future."
Maria sighed.
Maria: "I know, Ayesha. I just… I just wish she had done things differently."
Ayesha: "We all do, Maria. But you can only control your own actions. Learn from this."
Maria thanked Ayesha for the advice and ended the call. But the uneasy feeling in her heart still lingered.
---
The Attempt to Meet Sister Alex
The next morning, Maria spotted Sister Alex, a senior administrative officer at the academy, walking across the courtyard.
Maria had a lot of unanswered questions. She wanted to ask about Tara's case—to understand why the punishment had been so severe.
Maria: (to herself) "Maybe she can give me some clarity."
She hurried forward, hoping to catch Sister Alex before she disappeared into the main building.
But just as Maria was about to call her name, Sister Alex was approached by another staff member, and they began discussing something urgent.
Maria hesitated. She couldn't interrupt.
With a sigh, she turned away.
---
Three Days Later – The Truth Comes Out
It wasn't until three days later that Maria finally got the chance to meet Sister Alex in her office.
Sister Alex sat behind her wooden desk, flipping through some files. When she saw Maria, she smiled warmly.
Sister Alex: "Maria, how can I help you?"
Maria hesitated before speaking.
Maria: "I wanted to ask about Tara's case… I still don't understand why the academy took such a strict action. Was it really just about the cheating?"
Sister Alex looked at Maria for a long moment.
Then, she closed the file she was reading and leaned forward slightly.
Sister Alex: (quietly) "Maria, before I tell you this, you must promise me one thing—you won't share this with anyone."
Maria's heart skipped a beat.
She nodded.
Maria: "I promise."
Sister Alex took a deep breath.
Sister Alex: "Tara was given a second chance, Maria. The first time she was caught cheating was on her first exam. Sister Gabriel caught her. Tara submitted an apology application, and Father Robert personally accepted it."
Maria's eyes widened in shock.
Maria: "She was caught before?!"
Sister Alex nodded.
Sister Alex: "Yes. Father Robert warned her never to do it again. Tara agreed. She promised she wouldn't repeat the mistake."
Maria clenched her fists.
Maria: "Then why did she do it again?"
Sister Alex sighed.
Sister Alex: "That is something only she can answer. But Maria… there is more to this story than just the cheating."
Maria's breath hitched.
Maria: "What do you mean?"
Sister Alex leaned in closer.
Sister Alex: (whispering) "Tara tried to harass Father Robert."
Maria froze.
Her mind went blank.
Maria: (barely able to speak) "W-What?"
Sister Alex nodded, her expression grave.
Sister Alex: "After her first warning, she went to meet Father Robert alone and tried to get close to him… in an inappropriate way."
Maria felt her stomach churn.
Maria: "That… that can't be true."
Sister Alex: "Father Robert was so furious and humiliated that he decided not just to expel her, but also to use his connections to cancel her study visa. He wanted her out of the academy immediately."
Maria couldn't breathe.
This wasn't just about cheating.
Tara had done something far worse—something that had completely shattered her future.
---
Processing the Shocking Revelation
Maria left Sister Alex's office in a daze.
Her mind replayed the conversation over and over.
She had thought Tara's punishment was too harsh. But now…
Now, she understood.
Tara had not just broken the academy's academic rules—she had broken its moral code.
As Maria walked through the corridors, she could still see memories of Tara—laughing, studying, sitting with them in the cafeteria.
How had she fallen so far?
Maria clenched her fists.
Maria: (to herself) "No one can save a person who keeps making the same mistakes."
For the first time, she felt no sympathy.
Tara had destroyed her own future.
And Maria knew she would never make the same mistake.